Chain tightener



Aug.. 18, 1936. c. P. KoTTLoWsKl ET A1. ,2,051,488

CHAIN TIGHTENER Filed July 18, 1952 CLARENCE F." KoTTLowsK anal y CLI FFORD CLDFEEyE R,

Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED 4,STATES PATE-NT OFFICE Indianapolis, Ind.,

Chain and Manufacturing Company,

assignors to Diamond Indianapols,'lnd., a corporation of Indiana Application July 16,' 1932, Serial No. 622,977

12 Claims.

Our invention is concerned with devices for adjusting chain drives to produce the proper amount of tension in the chain by taking up slack, and it is our object to produce a chaintensioning device which will operate automatically and which will not'possess undesirable features p01- prior chain-tensioning devices Vof :which weare aware. More speciiically,.itfis our object to produce an automatic chain-.tensioning device which will not; impose .an undue load on the chain and which :therefore will eliminateexcessive wear and be conducive to long life f the chain.

In carrying outourinvention, instead of employing an4 idler sprocket which is continuously forced againstthe chainrby some yielding means, as prior inventors' have done, .weemploy an idler sprocket which-is .forced against the chain only intermittently, and preferably only at times when the chain is idle or is `atleast running at less than 'normal speed; land we .providea ratchet device for preventing ,'more than a predetermined movement ,of the idlersprocket away from the chain when the 4tightening pressure ls-relieved.

The accompanyingdrawing .illustrates our invention: Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the principle .of-'our invention; Fig. v21's a view similar to Fig. 21 illustrating a ,modified means which we Vmay V,employ to control the chain-tightener; Fig. 3 is an elevation of aA practical embodiment of our invention; Fig. :4 isa vertical section on the line-4 4 of Fig. 3; .and Figx is a developmentcffasection on'theline 5 of Fig. v3.

In Fig. 1 of v.the gdrawing wehaveillustrated a chain IIJ-and oneof the sprockets llzassociated therewithiin-a chaindrive. V.'Ihe idler sprocket I2, which is employedto-tighten the chain, preferably co-operates with a stretch'thereof which is slack under runningconditions. The sprocket I2 is mounted so that it may be moved generally transversely-of the'stretch of chain with which it co-operates in order to maintain-the chain-at approximatelythe correct degree of tightness. For this purpose, the sprocket I2 is shown as mounted on an arm. I3 lpivoted on a stationary axls.

We have shown rigid with therarm I3 aratchet Wheel I d with `which there co-operatesa pawl I5 mounted on some convenienti stationary part and serving to limit movement of'the sprocket I2 away 4from the adjacentstretch ofthe. chain II).

VIn Fig. l, there is also illustrated 1.a Aswinging lever I6 oscillatable about an axis .concentric with thatv of the armA I3 and limited in itsA swinging movement by stopY pins `I'I and I8. Aipawl I9 `mounted on the lever I6 in positionto cooperate with the ratchet I4 serves to move the sprocket I2 toward engagement with the-chain 5 I0 as the lever I6 is oscillated between the limits of movement provided by the pins II and I8. Aspring 2| actingon the lever I6 tends to move it in the direction which causes the sprocket I2 to approach the chain I0. l0 If the spring .2| were connected with the arm I3 directlyratherthan throughthe .medium of the ratchet mechanism'illustrated, the construction so far described would be generally typical of prior chain-.tightening devices of ,which we are aware, and the spnng 2l would operate to maintain a constant effortforcing the sprocket I2 into engagement :with its associated stretch of the chain I0, .thusimposing on the chainan unnecessary load promoting rapid wear and short 29 life. .By our invention, we provide means for relieving .the `chain from the elort exerted' by the spring 2 I when the chain is operating under normal.: conditions.

`If the mechanism associated withY the chain drive includes a positive-pressure lubricating system, 'for example, wesmay Aemploy the pressure existing inthe lubricating systemfor the purpose of relieving theiorce tending to moveithe sprocket I2 ,against its associatedstretchof chain. To 39 this end, we may connect. the arm I6 with a piston 22 which is slidably mounted ina cylinder 23. The'cylinder'23 is connected,as through a tube 24, withthe discharge opening of the oil pump 25 in the lubricating system 2.6. 35 In Fig. 1y the device isillustrated with the Vparts in the positions they respectively occupy when the chain-driveis notoperating. In this condition, the spring 2I acting throughthe lever IB, pawl I9, and ratchetld, is forcing the sprocket ,40

I2 against its associated stretch of gchain, kand is opposedby the tension inthe chain. When the chain-drive is placed in operation, duid pressure built up by the pump A.25. would be communicated to the cylinder 23 and would force 45 the piston 22 therein to the-right. This movement of the piston would swingthe lever AIIS in a counterclockwise direction and would permit the sprocket,v I 2 tomove in a directionI away from its associated stretch of chain, this movement being limited by engagement of the pawl I5 with the ratchet'M. The tension produced .in the chain by the idler I2 is therefore slightly less 4when the chain-drive is operatingathan it is ywhen the drive-is idlerandthe vchain isthus-relieved direction until eventually the pawl I5 passes over one tooth of the ratchet I4 andprevents the sprocket I3 from being retracted through as great a distance as before.

Obviously, the spacing of the ratchet teeth Vshould be such that the greatest possible movement of the sprocket I2 which can result from huid-pressure in the cylinder 23 will be insumcient to produce an undesirable looseness in the chain.

The device illustrated in Fig. 1 and described above is included in this application largely as an example and for the purpose of illustration. A practical development of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and .5, which Yshow a chaintensioning device in association with the chain driving the camshaft of an internal combustion engine. In the arrangement illustrated in those figures of the drawing, the sprocket I2 is mounted for rotation upon a cylindrical bushing which Y chamber.

is eccentrically pivoted on a pivot bolt 3l. This pivot'boltV 3| is mounted on a bracket 32 secured to the engine block in such a position that the sprocket I2 will'co-operate with the normally slack stretch of the chain I0; Also mounted upon the bracket 32 is a. ratchet plate Y33 having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth 34 concentric with the pivot bolt 3I. V Y

' Thebushing 30 is provided vwithan irregularly shaped cavity in which there is mounted a swingingvane V35. At one side ofrthe vane 35, the cavity in the bushing 30 is provided with an extensionV 36 which servesY as ailuid-pressure The vane'35'is formed toA provide a generally Ycylindrical enlargement 31 rthat serves as a trunnion for.l swinging movement vof Vthe through a passage 40.with an annular groove 4I in the pivotgbolt 3|.V This annular groove 3I in turn communicates with a passage 42 in the interior of the pivot bolt 3l, such passage being connected to the lubricating system of the engine'whereby oil under pressure will be supplied to the pressure chamber 36 when the engine is operating.

In addition to the cavity `above described, the bushing 3U isY provided with'a cylindrical hole in which a'locking pawl 44 is mounted, this pawl being spring-pressed into engagement with the ratchet teeth 34 in amanner similar to that of the pawl 38.' l

A coil-spring 46, or other yielding means, acts between the vane 35 and the bushing 30 and tends Vto rmove the vane toward the pressure-cham'- ber 36. i

Preferably, the cavity in thebushing 30 extends completely therethroughV and is closed at it in place.Y

The device just described operates in a manner analogous to that illustrated in Fig. 1.V When the engine is not operating, the spring 46 tends to swing the vane 35 in a counterclockwise direction about the axis provided by the enlargement 31. Because of the engagement of the pawl 38 with one of the ratchet teeth 34, this swinging movement of the vane relative to the bushing 30 tends to move the bushing itself in a clockwiseV direction about the axis of the pivotV bolt 3I, thus carrying the sprocket I2 towardV the adjacent stretch of the chain I0 and causing the chain to be tightened. When the engine is started, the oil pressure built up in the lubricating system is communicated to the pressure chamber 36'and, acting on the vane 35, swings it in a clockwise direction relative torthe'bushing. This movement of the vane relieves the force which had previously tended to move the sprocket I2 toward the adjacent stretch of the chain II) ,and permits the tension of the chain to move the sprocket backwardly through a distance limited by engagement of the pawl 38 with oneof the ratchet teeth 34.

. This cycle of operation is repeated every time may overlap the hub of the sprocket I2 to retain the `engine is started and stopped. If the chain Y is exceptionally loose when the tightener is first placed in operation, the vane Y35 will swing `through the entire range of movement permitted by Vthe Vwalls of the cavity in the bushing 30-and will advance the bushing 30 through an annular vane 35 nearer and nearer to the counterclock- Y wise limit of its movement in the bushing 30;

and before the limit is reached, the pawl 44 engages behind another of the ratchet teeth 34 and. prevents' an excessive retraction of the sprocket.

In order that the oil in the pressure-chamber 36 may not interfere Vwith'the action of the spring in swinging the Vchain in a counterclockwise direction in the bushing, it is necessary to provide reliefpassages permitting the escape of such oil. This relief is afforded by clearances provided between the end of the swinging vane Y35 and-the adjacent arcuate wall of the cavity in the bushing 30 andalso Vbetween the trunnion 31 and the supporting vWalls of the bushing-cavity. The clearances just referred to are indicated exaggeratedly at 35 in the drawing. The lower portion of the 'cavity in the bushing 30, and that portion of the cavity lying behind the vane 35 communicate with passages 36' leading to the peripheral wall of the bushing and openingvin axial alinement with an annular groove 30 on such bushing Wall, and in the plane of this groove the sprocket I2 is provided with one or more passages I2 which permit the oil escaping from the cavity inthe bushing 30 to lubricate the sprocket and chain. Y Y

In the modification of our invention illustrated inV Fig. 2, we lhave shown somewhat'diagrammatically a chain-tightener which might be employed in an automobile having an engine equipped with an electric starter. This device isessentially the same as that shown in Fig. 1

exceptthattheposition of therarm "|61is 4controlled .bye a I.spring 1' 60 and a solenoid 6| i instead `of rjby "the spring 2| :and fluid-pressure device illustratediinlFigJl.

In the device shown Ain'.A Fig. 2. the spring 60 diii'ers'from thefsprin'glIZ'l associated YWithfthe device .illustrated inFig. 1' in thatit acts `to it will be energize'd'whenever thee-starter switch 153 is fclosed'and the starter-62 placed in operation.

In Fig. 2 the parts are-showninthe positions theyroccupy when the switch'53`is`closed and the engine is being cranked. Under ysuch circumstances, the solenoid'l is energized, thus tending to `move the sprocket i2 toward the adjacent ystretch of the chain l0 to the limit of movement'in that direction which is-.provided by the tension `of thechain lll. When the engine'begins to run under its own power, the starter switch"6'3 will be openedand the-solenoid 6I deenergized,f-and the spring B'will swing the arm I6 fin a counter-clockwise direction and permit the sprocket l2A to be `retracted Vto the limit `of movement provided rby the ratchet-paw] 4I5. Upon each succeeding energization and de-energization of the solenoid 6|, the arm I6 will be oscillated; and as the chain wears, the sprocket I2 will be moved farther and farther in the chain-tightening direction, until the ratchetpawl l5 passes over another tooth.

It will be noted that the device illustrated in Fig. 2 differs from the other two devices shown in the drawing in that tightening movement of the idler sp-rocket l2 is effected when the chain is operating. However, this tightening movement of the sprocket I2 in the device illustrated in Fig. 2 occurs when the chain is running slo-wly, as it does when the engine is being cranked. In all devices illustrated, when the chain is running at normal speed the chain-tightening effort on the sprocket l2 is relieved.

The gist of our invention is this relief of chaintightening eiort when the chain is operating at normal speed. We have found this to be a distinct advantage, especially in chains adapted for high-speed operation; for under the conditions of high-speed operation, the slack stretch of the chain has a decided tendency to whip, and in devices where chain-tightening eiort is continuously exerted, the idler sprocket is caused to follow the chain in its whipping and thereby to tighten it excessively.

In any device embodying our invention, the chain operates at normal speed with the idler sprocket relieved of any effort effective to move it in the chain-tightening direction. The tightening of the chain is elected when the chain is idle or when it is operating at low speed and not subject toy whipping, and we thereby avoid excessive tightening of the chain.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination with a chain drive, a sprocket movable into engagement with one stretch 0f the chain to tighten it, an oscillatable member, means operable upon movement of said member in one direction for moving said sprocket toward its associated chain-stretch, ratchet mechanism preventing greater than fazpredeter` minedfnrovement ofssaid r:sprocket in thefopposite directionfa'pump jointly operableuwith saidchain drive, ".yleliiingmeans' acting Lon saidA oscillatable memberA and tending i toimovef it inlthat .direction which wlllrzcause chainetightening"movement of 'said sprocketyfa'nd means responsive :to fluidpressureigen'erated by vsaid pump for-:'movingfsaid oscillatable `meinberlin fthe fopposite'k direction.

:.2'..L'In :combination ".with. .a :chain drive, `a sprocket 'movable .into rengagement with fone stretchfof .the-.chain to tighten it, an :oscillatable member; means 'operable :upon `movement of said memberinlonerdirection for moving saidsp'rocket toward its. associated chain-stretch, ratchet mechanism` preventing greater than a predeterminedfmovement of saidl sprocketin the opposite direction-'yielding means :acting 'on V:said oscillatablemember rand-'tending'to'move it `in that direction lWhichvvill cause chain-tightening movement-'of saidvr sprocket, andmeans operable vjointly fwith #saidfcliain drive but Vindependent of chain-tension for moving said oscillatable memrber'in the `opposite direction.

43. In `combination with a chain drive, a `sprocket vmovable `into engagement with `one Stretchof the chain to tighten it,an oscillatable member, means operable uponmovement of vsaid memberiin one directionform'oving said sprocket toward its 'associated chain-stretch, 4ratchet i mechanism kpreventing .greater -r,than a predetermined movement ofsaid sprocket in the opposite direction, and two means alternately operable independently.ofl'chain-tension` formoving said cscillatablememberin'opposite directions, respectively.

4. In combination with a chain drive, a sprocket movable into engagement with one stretch of the chain to tighten it, yielding means acting on said sprocket and tending to produce chain-tightening movement thereof, ratchet mechanism for limiting movement of said sprocket in the opposite direction, and means operable jointly with said chain drive but independent of chain-tension and tending to move said sprocket in the last named direction.

5. A tightening device for the power-transmission chain of a chain drive, comprising a sprocket engaging the chain, a member upon which said sprocket is rotatably mounted, yielding means acting on said member tending to move it and said sprocket in a chain-tightening direction, means operative jointly with said chain drive but independent of chain-tension and tending to move said member and sprocket away from said chain to relieve the tension thereof, and a ratchet device associated with said member for limiting to a predetermined maximum the extent of such last mentioned sprocket movement.

6. A tightening device for the power-transmission chain of a chain drive, comprising a sprocket engaging the chain, a member upon which said sprocket is rotatably mounted, a spring, means operative jointly with the chain drive but independent of chain-tension for straining said spring, mechanism operated by said spring for moving said sprocket and member in a chaintightening direction, and a ratchet device for limiting to a predetermined maximum movement of the sprocket and member in the opposite direction.

7. A tightening device for the power-transmission chain of a chain drive, comprising a sprocket engaging the chain, a member upon which said sprocket is rotatably mounted, an oscillatable element carried .by said .memben a .stationary ratchet with which saidoscillatable element cooperates to move, as the result of its oscillations, the memberv andsprocket in a chain-tightening direction, a pawl carried by said member and also co-operating with said ratchet to limitto apredetermined maximum any movement. rof said member and sprocket in theropposite fdirection, and two means Valternately operable independently of chain-tension for moving `said oscillatable member in opposite'directions, respectively.

8; In combination with a chain 'drivea a. sprocket movable into engagement with one stretch of the chain to tighten it, means tending to move said sprocket in the chain-tightening direction when the chain is noti running Vat greater than a predetermined speed, means independent of chain-tension operative whenv said chain isrunning at greater than suchpredetermined speedrand tending to move saidsprocket in the opposite direction and ratchet mechanism for limitingmovement of said sprocket in the last namedY direction.

9. In combination 'with-a chain drive having a positively interconnected chain and sprocket, aV rotatable chain-tightening member movable into engagement with the chain Vtotighten it,

,means tending to force said member in the chain- Vtightening direction against the pressure exerted upon it by said chain, and mechanism jointly -operable with said chainpfor preventing said means from Vproducing chain-tightening movement Vof said member. Y

10. A chain tightener for a chain drive having a positively interconnected Ychain and sprocket, comprising a rotatable chain-engaging member,V a support therefor,means mounting said support for chain-tightening movement, means acting. on said'support' for applying a chain-tightening effort to said rotatable member, and mechanismV associated with said chaintightener andacting during normal operation of the Vchain drive for relieving said rotatable member, of chain-tightening eiort; said chain tightener including a ,device for'limiting recessionsof said.- support under the inuence of pressure exerted on said rotatable member by theV chain.

11. In'combinationwith a chain drive having Y a positively interconnected chainand sprocket, av rotatable chain-tighteningmember movable into engagement with-the chain to tighten it,

means tending to force said memberY in the chain-tightening direction againstthe pressure exerted upon it by said chain, and mechanism automaticallyresponsive to operation of saidV chain for preventing said means Yfrom producing chain-tightening movement of saidV member.

,I 12. In combination with a; chain drive having a positively interconnected chain and sprocket, a chain-tightening device comprising a rotatable chain-tightening member movable into engagement with the chain to tighten it, means` tending to force said member in the chain-tightening direction against the lpressure exerted upon it by lsaid chain, and mechanism associated with said chain-tightening device and acting during normal operation of the chain drive to prevent said means from producing chain-tightening movement of said member. ,y Y.

CLARENCE P. KOTILOWSKI. CLIFFORD C. DREYER. 

